| Start Date: | 10/16/2015 | Start Time: | 4:00 PM |
| End Date: | 10/16/2015 | End Time: | 5:30 PM |
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Event Description
Yinghui Zhong, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University, will discuss how traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) causes partial or complete loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions below the injury site, and how there are currently no effective treatments for SCI. Many mechanisms and molecules contribute to secondary injury. However, current treatment strategies are highly specific, targeting only one or a few elements in the injury cascades, and have been largely unsuccessful in clinical trials. Minocycline (MH) is a highly promising therapeutic agent for SCI because it has been shown to target a broad range of secondary injury mechanisms, and protect neural tissue from multiple neurotoxic insults after SCI, via its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. However, the inability to translate the high doses of MH used in experimental animals to tolerable doses in human patients limits its clinical application for SCI treatment.
Dr. Zhong's laboratory developed a novel drug delivery mechanism: metal ion binding-mediated interaction. This mechanism allows controlled and sustained release of drugs that have high binding affinity for metal ions from biocompatible and biodegradable natural polymers. Based on this mechanism, she and her team have developed novel MH-containing particles for local delivery of high dose, bioactive MH that systemic administration cannot achieve, while avoiding the deleterious side effects from systemic exposure. Further, an injectable hydrogel was used for particle encapsulation and local administration. The particle-loaded hydrogels can be injected into the intrathecal space of the injured spinal cord for local drug delivery at the injury site. The dose and duration of MH release can be controlled by initial loading and particle formulation. The drug delivery system is made from biocompatible, biodegradable polysaccharides ensuring the safety of clinical applications. In vivo study demonstrated that local delivery of MH effectively promoted tissue sparing and functional recovery. For more info, please visit www.biomed.drexel.edu. |
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Location:
Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB), Room 120, located at the corner of 33rd and Chestnut Streets. |
Audience:
Undergraduate StudentsGraduate StudentsFacultyStaff |
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